The World Happiness Report 2026 explores how social media use relates to global well-being, with a particular focus on the sharp decline in happiness among young people in recent years, specifically in North America and Western Europe.
Key Takeaways:
- Population-Level Impact: Research examines whether social media is harming adolescents at a scale large enough to cause changes at the population level, with analysis of gender differences across international datasets.
- Policy Translation: The report explores how to translate scientific evidence into effective policies for health and technology, examining problematic social media use and the role of family socioeconomic status across 43 countries.
- Regional and Contextual Factors: Analysis covers social media’s relationship with wellbeing through the lens of trust, social connections, and emotional bonds, including specific examination of the Middle East and North Africa region.
The World Happiness Report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board.
